Coalition to conclude constitution rewrite

"I believe the coalition parties will finalise the format to amend the charter after reviewing the pros and cons for each option," he said.

Choosak said the senatorial proposal to form a Constitution Drafting Assembly was one of the options.

He called on senators and parties concerned not to speculate on the matter before coalition parties can meet and reach a conclusion. He said none of the parties concerned opposed the rewrite, although they have differing ideas on how to proceed.

Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa, meanwhile, voiced support for the rewrite of the Constitution, although he has reservations about some of the proposed amendments. "I repeat that the 2007 Constitution must be amended, although I am willing to heed advice on how best to proceed with the matter," he said.

Banharn said the pros and cons of proposed changes should be debated in Parliament. He ruled out a Democrat proposal to conduct a thorough review of the charter before amending it, saying he deemed it unnecessary.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the Democrats might team up with senators in sponsoring an alternative road map on the charter rewrite in order to counter the coalition's dominance on the matter. "The Democrats welcome senators to endorse a joint motion for charter debate to be submitted along with the government-sponsored motion," Abhisit said.

He said the Democrats would propose the formation of a special panel to review the 2007 Constitution, rather than rush into debating the changes before determining what the problems are.

Should the coalition refuse to study the flaws ahead of rewriting, the opposition and senators would push for establishing a Constitution Drafting Assembly, he said.